Video: Via Napoli pizzeria grand opening in the Italy pavilion at Epcot in Walt Disney World

Via Napoli, located next to Tutto Italia Ristorante, its restaurant in the Italy pavilion in Epcot World Showcase at Walt Disney World Resort is first authentic Italian pizzeria to ever open in the park.

Join Lou Mongello from WDW Radio as he visits the restaurant on its opening days, talks with Patina Restaurant Group CEO Nick Valenti, and samples the flavors and culture of italy in this new Walt Disney World dining experience

Via Napoli features a selection of classical Neapolitan pizzas, created water calibrated specifically to the pH found in Naples, Italy.Â A unique feature at Via Napoli is the wood-burning ovens, which are named after the three active volcanoes in Italy â€“ Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius and Stromboli.Â Each oven is sculpted with the â€œface of the volcanoâ€ — reflecting the gods whose mythology surrounds each volcanoâ€™s history.

Restaurateur and longtime Patina Restaurant Group CEO Nick Valenti created the Via Napoli concept, based upon his travels in Southern Italy and his time developing and overseeing the successful Naples 45 Ristorante e Pizzeria in New York which was awarded the coveted certification of â€œLa Vera Pizza Napoletana.â€ While in Naples, Valenti spent time studying the art of dough, crust, sauce and oven temperatures at the famous pizzerias Da Michele and Trianon.Â At Da Ettore, he discovered the art of pagnotiello, a folded round of pizza dough filled with mozzarella, ham and mushrooms.

â€œI have always loved the beauty of a simple Neapolitan pizza,â€ Valenti says.Â â€œItâ€™s a perfect food, something beloved by both Italians and Americans. At Via Napoli we will make pizza the traditional Neapolitan way: with a textured, soft and charred crust. I look forward to bringing it to Walt Disney World, where it should be a welcome addition to guests visiting Epcot.â€

â€œWeâ€™re excited to be working with the Patina Restaurant Group once again on this significant expansion project,â€ said Dan Cockerell, vice president of Epcot. â€œVia Napoli will certainly enhance the guest experience and the architectural landscape of World Showcase just in time for our 15th annual Epcot Food & Wine Festival.â€

A unique feature at Via Napoli is the wood-burning ovens, which are named after the three active volcanoes in Italy â€“ Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius and Stromboli.Â Each oven is sculpted with the â€œface of the volcanoâ€ — reflecting the gods whose mythology surrounds each volcanoâ€™s history.

The architecture and design of the new pizzeria is based on a mix of traditional Italian styles, with the Florentine architect Stefano Nardini (of Magris & Partners) working in conjunction with Rick Swisher Architect to build it.

Excellent, Lou! This is just the type of information that I was looking for! I wanted to know what a fellow NJ native with strong Italian heritage thought of the food at Via Napoli, especially the pizza. Given your glowing review, I’ll plan to dine here with my wife next February the day before we set sail on the Disney Dream!

Btw, I like how your videos are like the movies with special scenes at the end of the credits!

You are so right Lou that water is the key for good batter and dough. New York City has pure tap water, and that’s why New York bagels and pizza taste so good. Maybe Mr. Valenti could send some of Via Napoli’s special water to the Disney bakeries to for use in making bagels.

Via Napoli looks just about perfect to me. They got it right. I can’t wait to eat there.

Wow! I could almost smell the food – it looks great! Thanks for making us feel as though we were right there with you. Will definitely have to try this out in April. By the way, loved the Dean Martin songs 🙂

Get your free book

Think you have done it all in Walt Disney World? Here are 102 Things that you may not have experienced before!